Folding stand.



B. B. WALBBRG.

FOLDING STAND.

APPLIOATION rum) NARA/15, 1911.

Patented Oct. 17,1911.

'n'rnnr orrion.

BERNARD E. WALBERG, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING STAND.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD E. WVALBERG, a citizen of the United States,residing at WVorcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Folding Stand, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a foldable stand, capable of use for severalpurposes, but particularly adapted for use as a Xylophone support. 2

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a foldable standof this character which can be folded up in a very small compass withoutdetaching any of the parts; to provide a construction. in which thefolding and unfolding can be done readily and rap idly, in which theparts can be locked rigidly in expanded position in an extremely simpleway, and in which the height may be varied; and also to provide forefficiently 1 holding the feet in their expanded position end view ofthe same.

and for conveniently holding the Xylophone or other article to besupported, in a simplified manner.

The invention also involves certain improvements in details ofconstruction as will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1is a side elevation of a folding stand constructed in accordance withthis inv'ention in expanded position. Fig. 2 is 511111 Fig. 3 is a sideview showing the parts folded up. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of certain details shown in Fig. 1. Fig.6 is a sectional view on enlarged scale on the line 66 of Fig. 4, andFig. 7 is an end view on enlarged scale of the upper part of the deviceshowing how the Xylophone supporting arms are moved from expanded tofolded position. I

The invention is shown as comprising two uprights or standards heldtogether in a manner to be described hereinafter and each comprising avertical rod 10 preferably hollow. On this rod slides a collar 11provided with a thumb screw 12 or the like for holding it in adjustedpositions thereon. On this collar are pivotally mounted a plu-. ralityof opposite, but outwardly slanting, legs or feet 13 each having anupwardly pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25,

' jecting end 14 for engaging the collar when Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

1911. Serial No. 616,831.

swung outwardly on the pivot so as to form a stop. On the bottom of eachupright 10 is a transverse plate 16 having two opposite depressions 17for receiving the adjacent surfaces of the legs or feet. When the collaris moved down as far as it will go these depressions engage the surfacesof the feet and force them out until the projections 14 come firmlyagainst the top of the collar, thus holding the feet securely inexpanded position after the screw 12 is tightened. This forces the feetto take a diverging position, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the four feeton the two uprights will securely support the stand. lVhen only oneupright is used it can be provided with four feet instead of two. Infolding the device, these collars are raised on the uprights so that thefeet are free to swing downwardly and they are adapted to rest neartheir ends in the depressions 17 so that there is no danger of beingtwisted out of place.

To the two collars 11 are pivoted links 19 and 20, respectively. Thesetwo links extend inwardly toward the center of the stand and pass eachother at their ends and each is pivotally connected with a link 21. Thusthese links 19, 20 and 21 are all pivotally connected. The two links 21are substantially identical and are pivoted together at their lower endsby a pin 22. They extend upwardly and outwardly from this point and arepivotally connected at their upper ends with projections or collars 23on the tops of the uprights 10. It will be noted that the pin 22 islocated below the links 19 and 20 and that each extends outwardly atright angles to the planes of these links. The link 19 is bent slightlydownwardly at a point near the pin 22 and at the bend is provided with apivot pin 28 on which is pivoted a locking member 24. This lockingmember is of a general S-shaped form having a loop 25 adapted to receivethe shank of the pin 22 and having a projecting end 26 for operating it.When these parts are expanded, they assumethe position shown in Figs. 1and 5 and the locking member is swung downwardly on its pivot until itpasses over the shank on the pin 22 and holds the same firmly inposition. By this simple device the whole frame work is securely lockedin position. It is to be observed, also, that 011 account of the factthat the link 20 is entirely free from all the other links except at itspoint of pivotal connection with the opposite link 21, the feet on oneend can be adjusted somewhat higher than the feet on the other end ifdesired and yet the frame can be locked in expanded position.

In order to fold the device, the locking member is loosened and thecollars 11 are simply raised on the uprights. This opera tion, as hasbeen described, provides for folding the feet and it also automaticallyresults in folding the links 19, 20 and 21 into the position shown inFigs. 3 and 4. It will be observed that this folding operationautomatically brings the uprights near together at the top and alsoswings the bottom ends inwardly toward each other.

It will be seen from this that the expanding operation is very simple.All that is necessary is to draw apart the upper ends of the uprightsand thus automatically bring the collars 11 down part way, then thepushing of the collars clear to the bottom of the uprights will bringthem into expanded position ready to be locked.

On the tops of the uprights are located means for holding the Xylophoneor other object to be supported. This is shown as consisting of a pairof vertically sliding rods 30, each telescoping into the top of one ofthe uprights 10 and each of which has a thumb screw for holding it inadjusted positions. On the top of each of these rods is a cross piece 31having pivoted to opposite ends thereof a pair of bars 32. Each of thesebars is shown as provided with an upwardly twisted transverse end 33 forengageing the sides of the Xylophone or other article to be supported.In folded position, these bars extend downwardly, as shown in Fig. l.When the device is to be used, how:- ever, they are swung around about180 degrees until they pass the vertical and come over to the horizontalwhere they rest on integral lugs 34: on the member 31. These lugspreferably also have. upright extensions 35 spaced fromthe vertical wallof the cross piece 31 to receive these bars and keep them in properposition. The expanding and folding of these elements will be obviousfromconsiderationof Figs. 2, 4 and 7 In view. of what has been said, itwill'be obvious that'the device is exceedingly simple, consists of fewparts, canbe readily folded into very'small compass, and can be asreadily. unfolded and locked in expanded position so as to constitutea-safe and rigid frame for the purpose intended.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment ofthewinvention, I am aware. that many modifications can be made-thereinbyany'person'skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of theinvention as expressed in theclaims. Therefore, I do not wish to belimited to all the details of construction herein shown and described,but- What I do claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, a device of thecharacter described comprising two upright members, a collar slidablealong each, legs pivotally mounted in said collars and extendingdownwardly therefrom, a plate on each upright member having recesses forreceiving the legs located beyond the walls of the upright member,whereby when the collar is lowered on the upright member the plate willforce the legs outwardly, means for engaging the upright member andholding the collar in a fixed position thereon, and a folding frameworkfor connecting said uprights.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofopposite standards or upright members, a collar slidably mounted on eachone, a pair of supporting legs connected with each-collar and adapted tobe operated thereby, a link pivotally connected with each collar, a linkpivotally connected with the upper portion of each standard, the lattertwo links being pivoted together and each one being pivotally, connectedwith the link which is connected with the opposite collar 3. As anarticle of manufacture, afolding stand comprising an upright member, alink pivoted near the top thereof and extending angularly therefrom, a.slidable collar on the upright member, a second link pivoted thereto,means for movably connecting said links, and legs supporting saidmovable collar.

4:. As an article of manufacture, a folding stand comprising a pair ofstandards or uprights, a collar slidably mountedoneach one, a linkpivotally connected with each collar, and a link pivotally connectedwith the upper part of each standard, the latter two links being pivotedtogether at their ends between the two standards and each pivotallyconnected at apoint above their common pivot with the link extendingfromthe opposite collar.

5. As an article of manufacture, a folding stand comprising a'pair ofuprights orstandards, a collar; slidably mounted on each, a linkconnected with each of said collars and extending inwardly between the:standards, a pair of links, one connected with the top of each 1 of saiduprights of standards, and extending inwardly and connected witheachother at their ends, each ofthe first named links being connected .withone of said pair oflinks on the opposite side of the center of thedevice at a point near the inner end. thereof, a fixed pin extendingfromthe common pivot o-f the said'pairof links, and a locking device'mounted on one ofthe other links for engaging said pin.

6. As an article of manufacture, a folding stand comprising two pairs oflinks, two of said links being pivoted together at their inner ends andextending upwardly from their pivotal point and having a transverse pinprojecting from said pivotal point, the other pair of links each beingconnected with one of the links of the first pairand extending therefromacross the other link of the first pair, and a locking loop pivoted onone of the links in position to engage the pin to lock the members infixed position.

7 As an article of manufacture, a folding stand comprising a pair ofuprights or standards, a collar slidably mounted on each, a foldingframework connecting said uprights and collars, a member verticallymovable on the top of each of said uprights and having a transverseplate on the top thereof, a pair of arms pivoted at the outer ends ofsaid plate and adapted to swing inwardly along the plate so as to crosseach other, and means for holding saidarms in horizontal position.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofuprights, means for supporting them, means for connecting the uprights,a member vertically movable on each upright and having a top plate, andan arm pivotally connected with each of the outer ends of said plate andadapted to swing on its pivot in a vertical plane, said plate havingprojections on its opposite sides for holding said arms in horizontalposition.

9. As an article of manufacture, a folding stand comprising an upright,a transverse plate supported thereby, and having two stops projectingfrom opposite sides and opposite ends thereof, and two arms one pivotedon each side and on each end of said plate and each adapted to swingover so asv to rest in horizontal position on the stop on the same sideand opposite end of the plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

BERNARD E. WALBERG.

Witnesses:

ALBERT E. FAY, J. ELMER HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

